Rue de choiseul 15 (Paris), 29 April [1828].

4to. 1 page.

To Louis François Sosthènes, Vicomte de La Rochefoucauld, Directeur des Beaux-Arts, reminding him of a request for an appointment from a few days earlier: "J'ai eu l'honneur de vous écrire il y a quelques jours pour solliciter un rendez vous après avoir été assez malheureuse pour ne pas vous rencontrer lorsque vous m'en aviez assigné un précédemment. Je prends la liberté de vous le rappeller [!] et vous prie d'agréer les assurances de la haute considération, avec laquelle j'ai l'honneur d'être [...]". Trivial though this beautiful letter may seem, it is highly indicative of Délacroix's poor relationship with the ultraroyalist Vicomte. As "Directeur Général des Beaux-Arts" to King Charles X between 1824 and 1830, de La Rochefoucauld wielded enormous influence over French artists. In 1825, Délacroix's monumental "Massacre at Chios" had been acquired for the Musée du Luxembourg, following its exhibition in 1824. This controversial purchase was made by Auguste de Forbin, director of the Louvre, without de La Rochefoucauld's approval. No further acquistions of Délacroix's works by the French state would follow during de La Rochefoucauld's directorate, and in 1828 he affronted Délacroix by suggesting he change his painting of "The Death of Sardanapalus", on display at the Salon, so that it might be acquired by the French state. Délacroix categorically opposed this interference, a possible topic of discussion in the appointment he sought from de La Rochefoucauld in this letter.

The letter can be dated by Délacroix's address, as he resided in 15 Rue de Choiseul only in 1828.

Traces of folds and insignificant browning to the margins. With collector's note in pencil, also dating the letter to 1828.